Virtual Minyan: Building of the Mishkan (Ex. 35:1-38:20),

Tomorrow (Thursday) at 4pm on our weekly Virtual Minyan we’ll explore the building of the Mishkan, the Dwelling place of God in this week’s Torah portion, Vayakhel (Ex. 35:1-38:20).

Rabbi James Jacobson-Maisels writes in his article ‘From “Over” to “Beloved”‘ that the Mishkan is “literally “dwelling-place,” the place where God and Israel meet. It is here that God’s divine presence, the Shekhinah (from the same root as mishkan), dwells in the midst of Israel. It is the means by which God becomes present in the very center of the Israelite community and in the hearts of the Israelites.”

“In the process of constructing the Mishkan, then, God is transformed from the awesome divine Other, unapproachable and incomprehensible, to the intimate divine Beloved, present in the midst of Israel. It is the act of generosity, the very process of giving, that actualizes the opening of the heart that in turn makes intimacy possible.”

Suggested Verses of the Week:

1. Men and women, all whose hearts moved them, all who would make an elevation offering of gold to Adonai, came bringing brooches, earrings, rings, and pendants—gold objects of all kinds. (Ex. 35:22)

2. And all the skilled women spun with their own hands, and brought what they had spun, in blue, purple, and crimson yarns, and in fine linen. (Ex. 35:25)

3. And [the artisans] said to Moses, “The people are bringing more than is needed for the tasks entailed in the work that Adonai has commanded to be done!” (Ex. 36:5)

This week’s portion raises some questions: Why does Moses repeat God’s command about the Sabbath as soon as everyone is gathered? Is the Sabbath really that important? How can a person be wise of heart?